[u1stplease]

Wal-Mart just recently got these in (for $298). Has anyone gotten one of these? Are they okay, pretty good, or lousy?


I'm considering getting one of these (in about 2-3 months), an wondered if anyone out there has any experience with this.

 

[byroan]

I bought one this past week and I love it. This is my first harddrive recorder. You can edit commercials for the TV shows you record and then burn them to a DVD disk.

 

[GhostInTheMachin]

I found the owners manual.

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...nk_UserManuals

 

[GhostInTheMachin]

I like the 2.5 hour spp mode, and divx 6 playback feature. But no Dual Layer support.



And I don't care for the yesdvd trial offer. Make three yesdvds then if you want to make more you have to buy the key code to unlock the feature.


does'nt quite fit what I'm looking for.

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by byroan /forum/post/0


I bought one this past week and I love it. This is my first harddrive recorder. You can edit commercials for the TV shows you record and then burn them to a DVD disk.

So how do you like it so far? I've seen a bad review about it at videohelp.com

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorder...ist=1#comments


[cut]

This DVDR with HDD does everything it says, but the picture quality is worse than either of my VCRs. I'm taking it back to Walmart tomorrow. I read a post in this forum listing the problems with all brands of DVD recoders, and this is precisely the problem everyone else had.


I have a 36" Tv, I'm using the component RCA video cables (Pr/Pb/Y), and I'm recording in the HQ-highest quality mode. All this and the video is still grainier than my VCR recording in the 4 hour SP mode.


I pretty disapointed

[/cut]


Is the PQ that bad, are you using component outputs as well? Hmm...for that price you will be able to get upcoming PIO 540H (80gb drive though).


TIA,


cm

 

[byroan]

I'm using component cables with a 120" projector screen and the quality looks great. I'm not even recording in the highest quality mode, I'm using SEP. The worst quality there is.

 

[soultravler]

Dear Philips Corp.


I am writing this letter about one of your products that I purchased. The DVDR3455H/37. This product has some good features. However like many new products introduced into the market place. Some companies or not always in tune with just how people use their equipment. I have a few suggestions that I believe can be instituted through a firmware update. That will make your product a superior buy at it's price range.


1. A lot of people use such devices as a tuner. That way they can hook it up to a plain monitor or just listen to the audio from a program. Such as some cspan programing or televised concerts. When people are doing this they just need the tuner. So if you could put a software program in the DVDR that allows the time shift feature to be turn off completely. That way there is no wear and tear on the hard drive. A small warning message can be put on the screen at startup and on channel changes to alert the user in case they forget that it is off. Also the feature can be set to auto turn on if some one hits the record button.


2. Once the unit is turned on you lose the LED time display. Most people actually use their units as a clock. The time display should always show the time or you should at least have the option to turn on a permanent time display option. This would be an improvement in a couple of ways. 1st all channels today display their logo so you always know what channel you are watching. 2nd When watching a program, it is good to know how much time is remaining in a program especially if it is a really good one.


3. When you are watching a dvd you should have the choice of viewing the actual time of day or the running time of the dvd. You should be able to toggle this feature from a remote control unit. Also the time slip function is on when you are watching a dvd. There is no need for this feature. You can pause and rewind a dvd at any time. Why time slip while watching a dvd?? Again the option to turn off the hard drive unit is needed.


4. There needs to be a commercial skip button on your remote. This feature should allow you to time jump when viewing saved programs at a 15 or 30 second interval. You should be able to set the time jump interval from the setup menu.


I believe if you can add these features through a firmware update. You will have a truly superior product. But as this product model stands (DVDR3455H/37) . It can at best be given a poor rating on features. Simply because most of these features have been standard on VCR's for years and DVDR's are suppose to be an improvement. As it stands there is know way I can recommend this product to a friend or give it a good performance rating to members of a help forum which I am a moderator for. As I have stated you have a good base product. It is just that the fine tuning of software features were not well designed. With the above improvements which are mostly software in nature you can put your product at the top of heap for this type of dvdr at it's price.


I hope you consider the updates. Thanks for your time

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by soultravler /forum/post/0


Dear Philips Corp.


I am writing this letter about one of your products that I purchased. The DVDR3455H/37. This product has some good features. However like many new products introduced into the market place. Some companies or not always in tune with just how people use their equipment. I have a few suggestions that I believe can be instituted through a firmware update. That will make your product a superior buy at it's price range.


1. A lot of people use such devices as a tuner. That way they can hook it up to a plain monitor or just listen to the audio from a program. Such as some cspan programing or televised concerts. When people are doing this they just need the tuner. So if you could put a software program in the DVDR that allows the time shift feature to be turn off completely. That way there is no wear and tear on the hard drive. A small warning message can be put on the screen at startup and on channel changes to alert the user in case they forget that it is off. Also the feature can be set to auto turn on if some one hits the record button.


2. Once the unit is turned on you lose the LED time display. Most people actually use their units as a clock. The time display should always show the time or you should at least have the option to turn on a permanent time display option. This would be an improvement in a couple of ways. 1st all channels today display their logo so you always know what channel you are watching. 2nd When watching a program, it is good to know how much time is remaining in a program especially if it is a really good one.


3. When you are watching a dvd you should have the choice of viewing the actual time of day or the running time of the dvd. You should be able to toggle this feature from a remote control unit. Also the time slip function is on when you are watching a dvd. There is no need for this feature. You can pause and rewind a dvd at any time. Why time slip while watching a dvd?? Again the option to turn off the hard drive unit is needed.


4. There needs to be a commercial skip button on your remote. This feature should allow you to time jump when viewing saved programs at a 15 or 30 second interval. You should be able to set the time jump interval from the setup menu.


I believe if you can add these features through a firmware update. You will have a truly superior product. But as this product model stands (DVDR3455H/37) . It can at best be given a poor rating on features. Simply because most of these features have been standard on VCR's for years and DVDR's are suppose to be an improvement. As it stands there is know way I can recommend this product to a friend or give it a good performance rating to members of a help forum which I am a moderator for. As I have stated you have a good base product. It is just that the fine tuning of software features were not well designed. With the above improvements which are mostly software in nature you can put your product at the top of heap for this type of dvdr at it's price.


I hope you consider the updates. Thanks for your time

Good post

. BTW.... how is PQ? Are there any features you like so far? I've heared from someone that is pretty good. I should be getting my unit anyday... can't wait.

 

[criminal666]

Has anyone used Staples brand DVD+R on these burners? If not could someone please? It would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

 

[soultravler]

caveman_17


I used the video connections and the Hq setting to record with. I only have a few programs that I miss a month. So I dont need to use low quality settings. The picture looked fine to me. It is on a 21 inch set. Not big 36" plus sets.

 

[7558037]



Quote:
Originally Posted by caveman_17 /forum/post/0


I have a 36" Tv, I'm using the component RCA video cables (Pr/Pb/Y), and I'm recording in the HQ-highest quality mode. All this and the video is still grainier than my VCR recording in the 4 hour SP mode.

Quote:
Originally Posted by byroan /forum/post/0


I'm using component cables with a 120" projector screen and the quality looks great. I'm not even recording in the highest quality mode, I'm using SEP. The worst quality there is.

Grainy on 36" TV at HQ quality, but "looks great" on 120" projector screen at SEP!?


Will the real truth please be told...or did they reverse the quality settings on this unit???

 

[soultravler]

This unit offers a lot of recording and playback options. It is possible the people with poor picture quality did not get settings right. Software options are the weak point of this machine. It offers a lot but does not tie it together well.


Record options are HQ, SP, SPP, LP, EP, SLP, SEP

Play back through Rf, video inputs, S video, and compent video

You have a progressive scan playback if your tv supports it.

You can playback in NTSC or PAL

Picture shape can be played back in 4:3 LB, 4:3 PS, 16:9 WS


These are just the playback options. So with poor software menus. If you are not sure what you are doing you can easily end up with poor picture quality.

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by wabjxo /forum/post/0


Grainy on 36" TV at HQ quality, but "looks great" on 120" projector screen at SEP!?


Will the real truth please be told...or did they reverse the quality settings on this unit???

Just to get this straight it wasn't me with 36" TV, I just copy/pasted this from videohelp forum. Like I said before I'll be getting my unit any day now, after I'll post a mini review with my findings. Btw I also have 36" tv (sony 36hs420) so I guess my picture won't be so good

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by soultravler /forum/post/0


This unit offers a lot of recording and playback options. It is possible the people with poor picture quality did not get settings right. Software options are the weak point of this machine. It offers a lot but does not tie it together well.


Record options are HQ, SP, SPP, LP, EP, SLP, SEP

Play back through Rf, video inputs, S video, and compent video

You have a progressive scan playback if your tv supports it.

You can playback in NTSC or PAL

Picture shape can be played back in 4:3 LB, 4:3 PS, 16:9 WS


These are just the playback options. So with poor software menus. If you are not sure what you are doing you can easily end up with poor picture quality.

Sorry to say, but it looks like you are very disapointed with this unit. You bought an entry level 'Civic' and you are expecting a perfmormace of fully loaded 'Accord'

If you wanted a better/more friendly gui you should of bought Panny or Pio dvr recorders. The buttom line is you get what you pay for. My max was $300, and the choice was either Polaroid 2001G or this Philips, I went with this Philips since I was able to buy it for $240 off ebay ($300 at walmart), where Polaroid goes for $220 at walmart. The way I think about it is that the $150 I save today, I can add to my future dvr that I'll buy in 2-3 years from now. (hd-dvd and blue ray who ever wins). My self I knew exactly how the menus look like before I've made a purchase, so I don't expect too much. Most of the options you've listed, you set it once and you don't change them again. I guess some people complain the menus are too simple.... and some say that everything is too complicated.....i.e. Toshiba dvrs. Nothing personal, but if you don't like the unit, return it back, add few $$$ and get your self Panny or Pio. I bet $$$ they will have some flaws too ( you cannot make everybody happy), there is no such thing as perfect

Look what happened to Pio's EPG problem in last years models.

 

[Robocardo]

Someone knows how to change from Region 1 to 0 or MultiZone?


Ricardo

 

[bobkart]

Change what?

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bobkart /forum/post/0


Change what?

Region code, so you can play i.e. European DVDs on the unit. By default most of the units sold in NA are set to region 1, some of them can play Multi-Region dvd by changing the region to 0. This can be done i.e. via dvd menus by typing a 'special' numbers.


Robocardo, I'm waiting for my unit to arrive, as soon as a find out how to do it I'll post it in this forum (if it is allowed) or I can pm you if it is not. Please do the same

 

[bobkart]

Yes I know about Region Codes. They are associated with players, recorders, and discs themselves. He did not specify which of those he wanted to change the Region Code of. Hence my question. I guess since this Topic is about a recorder, I could have assumed that's what he wanted to change the Region Code of. But he may have been asking about changing the Region Code of a disc (it wouldn't be the first such question), in which case I could have helped him.

 

[caveman_17]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bobkart /forum/post/0


Yes I know about Region Codes. They are associated with players, recorders, and discs themselves. He did not specify which of those he wanted to change the Region Code of. Hence my question. I guess since this Topic is about a recorder, I could have assumed that's what he wanted to change the Region Code of. But he may have been asking about changing the Region Code of a disc (it wouldn't be the first such question), in which case I could have helped him.

good point

, I've assumed he was asking about changing region code from 1 to 0 on his philips dvr.

 

[bobkart]

And you're probably right now that I think about it.